process

1 of 4

noun

pro·​cess ˈprä-ˌses 

ˈprō-,

-səs 

plural processes ˈprä-ˌse-səz 

ˈprō-,

-sə-,

-ˌsēz 

1

a

: a series of actions that produce something or that lead to a particular result

manufacturing processes

Few cooking methods can beat roasting for ease—the process is largely unattended.

—Keith Dresser

The book is still in process [=being worked on]

b

archaic : a series of actions, happenings, etc., going on : proceeding

Behind the arras I'll convey myself / To hear the process.

—Shakespeare

2

a(1)

: a series of changes that happen naturally

the process of growth

the aging process

conditions that speed the composting process

(2)

: a continuing natural or biological activity or function

such life processes as breathing

b

: a continuous operation or treatment especially in manufacture

the process of making steel

a chemical process

3

a

: the whole course of proceedings in a legal action see also due process sense 1

b

: the summons, mandate, or writ used by a court to compel the appearance of the defendant in a legal action or compliance with its orders

4

: a prominent or projecting part of an organism or organic structure

a bone process

the long process of a nerve cell

5

: conk entry 6

process

2 of 4

verb (1)

processed; processing; processes

transitive verb

1

a

: to subject to a special process or treatment (as in the course of manufacture or film development)

Food is often processed before it is packaged and sold.

b(1)

: to subject to or handle through an established usually routine set of procedures

process insurance claims

Your application will be processed in 5 to 10 business days.

(2)

: to integrate sensory information received so that an action or response is generated

The brain processes visual images relayed from the retina.

(3)

: to take in and use (as information) : subject to examination or analysis

computers process data

It took me a while to process what the professor was saying.

c

: to chemically treat (hair)

processing hair with highlights

2

a

: to proceed against by law

b(1)

: to take out a summons against

(2)

: to serve a summons on

process

3 of 4

adjective

1

: treated or made by a special process especially when involving synthesis or artificial modification

2

: made by or used in a mechanical or photomechanical duplicating process

3

: of or involving illusory effects usually introduced during processing of the film

process

4 of 4

verb (2)

pro·​cess prə-ˈses 

processed; processing; processes

intransitive verb

chiefly British

: to move in a procession

Synonyms of process

Noun

• procedure
• method

Examples of process in a Sentence

Noun

How does the election process work?

Learning a foreign language can be a long process.

We're remodeling our house. The whole process is expected to take a few months.

Breathing and the circulation of blood are life processes.

a bony process on the foot

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Congress typically approves funding for these nutrition programs through the annual appropriations process. —Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025

But the thought processes are cool, the way guys maneuver the game is cool. —Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

Verb

An associate scientist at the University of Miami, Hazelton was processing the data flowing in from the weather instruments being dropped into the storm. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025

According to the team, this breakthrough could pave the way for smarter soft robots, tiny mechanical sensors, and advanced devices that process information directly within materials, opening new frontiers in soft-matter computing. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025

Adjective

Regrind silicone used in the speaker is made by reclaiming and upcycling post-process and post-consumer silicone scraps that might otherwise end up in landfill. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2022

This may have positioned several large cities that chose to pre-process ballots to deliver election results earlier than expected. —Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 4 Nov. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English proces, from Anglo-French procés, from Latin processus, from procedere

Verb (2)

back-formation from procession entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adjective

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1814, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing process

• alveolar process
• Bessemer process
• due process
• Haber process
• in-process
• in the process
• in the process of (doing something)
• Markov process
• odontoid process
• open-hearth process
• peace process
• procedural due process
• process cheese
• process of elimination
• pterygoid process
• Solvay process
• spinous process
• sub-process
• substantive due process
• thought process
• transverse process
• xiphoid process
• zygomatic process

Rhymes for process

• abbess
• abscess
• access
• address
• assess
• caress
• confess
• depress
• digress
• distress
• egress
• excess

Kids Definition

process

1 of 2 noun

pro·​cess ˈpräs-ˌes  ˈprōs- 

-əs

plural processes -ˌes-əz  -ə-səz 

-ə-ˌsēz

1

a

: advance entry 2 sense 1

the process of time

b

: something going on

2

a

: a natural continuing action or series of actions or changes

the process of growth

life processes

mental processes

b

: a series of actions or operations leading to a result

a manufacturing process

3

: the carrying on of a legal action

due process of law

4

: a bodily part that sticks out or is conspicuous : outgrowth

a bony process

process

2 of 2 verb

1

: to change or prepare by special treatment

process foods

2

a

: to take care of according to a routine

process people looking for a job

process insurance claims

b

: to take in and organize for use in a variety of ways

computers process data

process information

Medical Definition

process

noun

pro·​cess ˈpräs-ˌes  ˈprōs- 

-əs

1

a

: a natural progressively continuing operation or development marked by a series of gradual changes that succeed one another in a relatively fixed way and lead toward a particular result or end

the process of growth

the process of digestion

b

: a natural continuing activity or function

such life processes as breathing and the circulation of the blood

2

: a prominent or projecting part of an organism or organic structure

a bone process

a nerve cell process

Legal Definition

process

noun

pro·​cess ˈprä-ˌses, ˈprō- 

1

: a continuous operation, art, or method especially in manufacture

whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process…may obtain a patent therefor

—U.S. Code

2

a

: procedure sense 1 see also abuse of process, due process

b

: a means (as a summons) used to compel a defendant to appear in court

broadly : a means by which a court acquires or exercises jurisdiction over a person or property see also mesne process compare notice, service

Note: In civil procedure, service of a summons on a defendant is considered constitutionally sufficient process, although usually a copy of the complaint must also be provided according to the local rule of procedure.